Symonds repents for his actions off-field

Sydney:After the drunken night out during the Ashes, which almost cost him his career, Andrew Symonds says, he was on the verge of getting into another alcohol fuelled trouble at a nightclub in South Africa earlier this year but for the timely intervention of Michael Clarke (Pup).

In his book 'Roy: Going For Broke', excerpts of which were published in today's 'Daily Telegraph', Symonds said after the disgraceful Ashes incident when he took to the field completely drunk, he could have ended up in another spot of bother had it not been for Clarke.

The all-rounder said during the tour of South Africa this March, he was about to pick a fight with a rugby player at a nightclub in Cape Town but Clarke intervened to defuse the situation.

Symonds revealed that he wanted to ''take it outside'' with the Springbok player but Clarke saved him from another night of disgrace.

Reflecting back on the drunken night out during the Ashes last year, Symonds said he did not even change his clothes for breakfast after returning late.

''Then I fell asleep and the next thing I know I'm being pinched, prodded and poked before getting drenched with water. I didn't feel the first bottle of water that Pup (Clarke) poured over me,'' Symonds wrote in the book.

The lanky Queenslander was fined and suspended following the incident but Symonds revealed that he was in a greater danger of losing his contract after Cricket Australia warned him of stricter action for repeating the behaviour.

''James Sutherland was quite clear that this latest contract would be ripped up if I overstepped the mark again,'' Symonds writes.

In another revelation, Symonds said he withdrew from the race for Allan Border Medal to repent his actions despite being nominated by Cricket Australia.